Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-23
QUARTERLY REVIEW.
SUGGESTIONS BY S. !. cURTlSS,
PHI. D., D. D.

ond 0uarter). for Sunday, June 26.
Golden Text. Ps. CIV, 43, HE Brought
Forth His People with JOY"
The Schooling of the People of Redemp-
tion.-Nations, like individuals, need to 90
to school Israel was to be trained in the
sciences and arts of Egypt, the university of
the ancient world, and afterward in theology
or religion in the wilderness. Sin, misfor-
tune and famine were the instruments in
Gods hands in introducing Israel to Egypt
The Beloved Son.-Unconsciously Jacob
and Joseph's brethren were co-working with
God in the accomplishment of this plan God
had great things in store for Joseph, and he
gave him premonitions of them His father
loved him because he was the son of bis be-
loved wife, Rachel, and perhaps because of
his goodness. For ali these reasons his breth-
ren hated him, because of his superiority, his
goodness and his fathers love- and they were
ready to kill him.
Joseph reminds US Of that best beloved Son,
whom his brethren the Jews hated because of
his sinlessneSs, and his just claims to leader
ship, whom they betrayed and crucified, and
who became the Saviour of the world through
the sin Of his own people, as Joseph became
the savior of his brethren
Joseph Ruler.-As Jesus the sinless one
suffered because of his goodness, so Joseph
suffered because of his virtue. He went to
prison for years rather than yield to the voice
Of temptation and sin against God.
But as Jesus went through the deepest
shame and humiliation to a seat at the right
hand of the Father, so Joseph was given a
place next the king of Egypt.
Joseph and his Brethren.-There is no peace
to the wicked They are like the troubled
sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up
mire and dirt Joseph spent years in a prison:
but we may well believe that in all those
years he took more comfort than his guilty
brothers. Could they ever forget his pure,
pleading face as they thrust him into the pit,
Or the falsehood they told their fathera
Before they could have forgiveness and
peace, they must experience deep repentance
So we before we can have peace with God,
and have the love of Christ shed abroad in
our hearts, must remember that it was our
sins which nailed our Saviour to the cross.
Filial Love.-Joseph is an example of the
love Of children for parents in all times. He
did all he could to make the old age of hi
father happy. He was thoughtful for his
comfort, and was not ashamed to introduce
him to the proud Pharaoh of Egypt. He re-
by caerishIng that father in his old age, and
then by honoring his memory when dead as
though he had been king.
An Enslaved People.-At last Joseph died
and all his brethren. A new king arose who
neither knew nor cared for him. This king
looked with fear on the Israelities, who were
so rapidly increasing in Goshen on the high
way of his kingdom to the countries of his
enemies in Palestine, the land of the Hittites,
and Of Assyria- He even commanded that
all the male children should be slain, but
under Gods care the people kept increasing.
The enslavement of Israel was only the way
to their deliverance.
The Wonderful Babe-Nothing is small in
Gods kingdom. The destinies of this world
hung on the life of the babe in Bethlehem.
Herod's decree was therefore powerless
against him. So at an earlier period the
destinies of Gods chosen people were COM
mitted to a little basket, and that little
basket with its precious burden was COM
mitted to the Nile and its keeping was in
trusted toa Hebrew maiden But that child
was In the keeping of the infinite God. The
same hand that led the Hebrew mother to
put the basket on the waters of the Nile was
leading Pharaoh's daughter thither, and was
preparing the way for this beautiful babe to
become the son Of princess.
The leader of Gods people mus go to
school, first among the princes of the world in
Egypt, and then like his people be was to be
taught OF God in the awful solitudes of the
wilderness
The Burning Bush.-Al human gifts are in
vain for Gods service without the baptism of
fire and unless God reveals himself to the
soul The leaders of Gods host must have a
vision of the Almighty before they can per-
form any mighty works. Moses was versed
in all the learning Of the Egyptians, and had
had the opportunity for meditation in the
wilderness, but he was not prepared for his
work until be had seen the burning bush.
The Passover.-The destroyer once stood at
every door in Egypt. He passed by the doors
where he saw the blood sprinkled; he entered
wherever ne did not see the traces of the
blood, and when he came out one lay dead
Christ our passover is slain for u.s. If his
blood is sprinkled on our hearts we have
peace with God. The destroyer cannot enter.
The soul that sinneth it shall die, and we have
all sinned, but the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanseth US from all sin. Through him we
have redemption and the forgiveness of sins
The Path through the Sea--Israel, delivered
from one peril, was faced with another.
When he gives the word of command we are
to obey, although we are encompaSsed with
dungeon walls as Peter was, or although the
sea lies before us as it did before Israel. The
one that says Hgo forward" can open the way
before us
The ManER.-The hand that opens the way
before his people can give them bread. We
cannot ask anything better for ourselves than
to be led of God; for If we are in the way
Of his providence all difficulties will disap-
pear. We need not fear the desert if God 60
before us.
The Ten mmandments.-These are ten
links in one chain To break the chain it is
not necessary to break every link He that
breaks one link has broken the chain. He
that breaks one commandment, as Christ has
shown, is guilty Of all The heart may have
broken the commandments before the hands
or feet or tongue have done so. Self worship
is idolatry. Supreme devotion to art is image
worship. Contempt of God Is proclamation Of
his name A worldly mind on the Lords
day is Sabbath breaking. Unkind or slight
ing thoughts of parents constitute failure
TO honor them Hatred is murder. Lust is
adultery. Desire Of others property which
is only held in check by law is theft The
imputation Of wrong motives to others in our
thoughts without sufficient evidence is false
witness. Covetousnsss Is by its very nature
a sin Of the heart
Who Of us can stand before such n law and
honestly say, 81 have never transgressed one
Of these commandsF" But II we offend in one /
point we are guilty Of an James ii, 10.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
/. God knows how to train us for his work.
9. God gave his only and well beloved Son
to die for us
8. No cross on earth, no crown in heaven.
4. There can be no pardon without true re-
pentance for sin.
8. We should rejoice that we may make
some return to our parents for all their love
to US and care Of US.
Q. Only God can set the captives Of SIN